Friday, June 8, 2012

This post is about a little bit of everything! I posted a picture of the fire pit patio on Facebook a few days ago and got lot of likes...thanks everyone! I appreciated the nice comments. So I thought I would show more pics here on my blog. I showed it in April before the flowers really started growing. Now they are really taking off! I water every morning and recently gave them a good dose of Miracle Gro. I can always see a huge difference in a about two weeks. That stuff really works!

We have really been enjoying alot of evenings out here. The weather has been just right to sit around the fire pit and listen to music.

Kevin cooks on the fire pit all the time. We love roasting hot dogs and grilling hamburgers. They taste just like they do when your out camping!

I recently painted the bench. You might remember it was faded black. Now the cushion needs a little revamp too. The sun is really bleaching it out.

The flowers around the bird bath have really come along too! I planted zinnias, begonias, and petunias. I think the zinnias are taking over. As you can see I love me some flowers! I just hope Kevin waters them while we are in...

Washington D.C.! We will be catching a flight early Sunday morning. You might remember a while back I mentioned that Chase, along with two other classmates, won second place at the State National History Day competition for their group website. That meant that they would move on to Nationals in Washington D.C. His trip is totally paid for so that helped! My mom and I are going along with a few teachers and other moms. This trip is going to be all about the museums. Chase and his friends are looking forward to the Smithsonian. They are also going to get to tour the White House with Arkansas State Senator John Boozman! Unfortunately they would only allow a group of six on the tour so some of us have to wait outside. Oh well, at least the kids will get to see it. I really don't know alot of the plans for this trip and have no idea what to expect. I guess we will figure it out when we get there. If you have been there and know of something we can't miss please let me know. I will be posting lots of pics on my Facebook page.

Normally we are lucky to take one trip! However, thanks to my parents we are heading to Jamaica a week after we return from Washington D.C.! We were already planning to go to Jamaica when the D.C. trip came along. We are all going along with my mom and dad and we are staying at the Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay. I'm sure D.C. will be fun, but I'm really looking forward to this trip! Have any of you been to Jamaica?

And last...as you can see I changed up the mantle. It was boring the other way and I wasn't sure I liked the scrolly piece over the framed metal art. I ended up raising the art and adding books, a box, bookends and lanterns. I think I like this better...for now. =0 It's still symmetrical!

Thanks to those of you who joined my party this week! There are some really great links. I will not be able to post the party next week...so sorry. We are not getting back until 10:00 Thursday night. I will try to post some pics of our trip here on my blog if I can figure out how to do it from my phone...just hoping it's not too difficult. I will definitely be posting pics on Facebook though.

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comments:

Your firepit patio looks great, Kristen! I love how the flowers and plants play off your cushion colors. I have to try that miracle gro. I just put in a few hydrangeas and I'd love to give them a good start. Right now I'm just making sure I'm watering them well because we haven't had any rain {not that I'm complaining} and the temps have risen these past couple of days to the 80's.

I struggle with mantles. They never look right to me. Arrrgghhh. I am not a symmetrical person. I don't usually do anything that way. Looking at your fire pit and flowers warmed me up on this gray cold day here. Thanks.

Hi Kristen! My new bloggy friend over at "deep in the heart of Arkansas" shared your blog with me, and I am too excited to find another NW Arkansas blogger! Love your cute creations! And congrats on the new kitchen appliances, they look GREAT!

Your flowers garden is beautiful....love your flowers...and I got to get me a fire pit....Washington is so beautiful as you know....it's so clean and I think everyone in the USA should visit our capital....good luck to your son....Jamaica..yes I've been there and stayed at that same hotel.....it's beautiful ....just a little out dated in the room....but just the same ....so relaxing.....don't forget to do the ski do's snorkeling ..... alot of fun.....tfs

Kristen - I love your garden - but I wanted to send you a message and ask for prayers. My grand daughter was born Thursday afternoon and had to be transported, via ambulance, to Orlando to a NICU unit. Prayers would be appreciated - and if you could spread the word - we could use all the prayers we can get! Thanks Kristen!Hugs -Carol/Nana

All your flowers look gorgeous, I can't believe those 2 hanging plants on the hooks! I love your flower combos, I am taking notes as next year we will be in FULL sun at the new house so I have to rethink all my pots! Have a GREAT 2 trips!!!!! I love seeing the Vietnam wall in DC. Have never been to Jamaica, sadly! XO, Pinky

Hi Kristen. Your patio is so pretty! I love all of the different colors of flowers that you mixed together. I've roasted marshmallows over our firepit, but never even thought about doing hotdogs - duh! ;o) The redo of your mantle turned out great. You have some fun trips coming up! Hope you and your family have a wonderful time. Too bad that I'm about 5 hrs away from DC or I would try to meet you!

Wow Kristen, everything looks great! I love your fire pit, this will be a great place for teenagers to hangout in a few years! Have a great time on your vacations, we live in northern VA, maybe we will run into to each other!Stay Safe - Michelle

Wow Kristen, everything looks great! I love your fire pit, this will be a great place for teenagers to hangout in a few years! Have a great time on your vacations, we live in northern VA, maybe we will run into to each other!Stay Safe - Michelle

Wow Kristen, everything looks great! I love your fire pit, this will be a great place for teenagers to hangout in a few years! Have a great time on your vacations, we live in northern VA, maybe we will run into to each other!Stay Safe - Michelle

Your patio looks beautiful. I planted a bunch of flowers in pots around the same time you did. We live in California and it has been dry and hot. So, my flowers aren't quite as pretty. Most of them are but I have a few that I will be bringing back to Home Depot.

Congrats to Chase. What an honor. And...Seriously, Jamaica! Have so much fun. I hope we make an island this year. Can't wait to see pictures. Safe travels.Cathy

First of all I love the patio & the mantle! Gorgeous!! Ive been to DC recently and LOVED every min of it! I went with school on my 8th grade trip but now being almost 30 I appreciated it a lot more. I think my fav thing we did was the Smithsonoian-National Museum of American History. You CAN'T miss the Star Spangled Banner there, as well as the first ladies collection :) I also loved the National Archives. So much to do there! And Jamiaica.. we went to Ocho Rios (Sandals)..but getting there was a bit crazy! Have fun!(Kelly's Korner)

Featured in Country Woman Magazine fall 2012 for kitchen and crafts

I'm a 42yr. old mother of 1. I've been married for 21years to a wonderful man, Kevin. We have one son together named Chase who is 14. We live in a small town in Arkansas and have a dog named Sassy, a cat named Coco and now a chinchilla, Tiki. My husband is a Database Administrator and I have my own business called Kristen's Creations where I make and sell a variety of crafts. I worked in a shop as a floral designer for 15 yrs. until it closed. My former boss decided to retire and lease out her building. I enjoy crafting, decorating, and hanging out with my family.
E-mail me at Kristenscreations@hotmail.com